A member of the starling family, it is 25 cm long (including a 9 cm tail), with a wingspan of 44-45 cm, and a weight of 100-140 g. The males have glossy iridescent black plumage with orange patches on the outer wing, which are particularly noticeable in flight. The bill and legs are black. Females and young birds are similar but duller and with a greyish head, lacking the plumage gloss.

It is gregarious and noisy, with a call that resembles a wolf-whistle. They are omnivorous, feeding on fruit and invertebrates, and can also be observed grooming Nubian Ibex and domestic livestock for parasites. They are becoming increasingly commensal with man, feeding in towns and villages; this has enabled a recent northward spread in their distribution.